Impatient Abthorpe golfer is spared jail

AN arrogant BMW driver who injured a steward during the Silverstone Grand Prix when he drove the wrong way down a one-way street was spared a prison sentence but was banned from driving for a year.

Auto repair firm boss, Richard Taylor, aged 38 of Main Street, Abthorpe, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Northampton Crown Court last week and was given a three month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours community service and ordered to pay £250 costs. The court heard Taylor had been late for a round of golf on Sunday, July 10, when he found the Whittlebury Road was closed by stewards, including a 38-year-old RAF sergeant. They told him to take an alternative route but he refused and drove into the sergeant, scooping him onto the bonnet, carrying him up to 20 metres.

Recorder Patrick Upward QC said Taylor’s arrogance was hard to ignore but spared him jail because of the families who depend on him.